geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jixr on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:40:46

Title: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Jixr on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:40:46

Hi everyone!

so I have an idea... and i'm not sure if its a good one or not.


My PCB supports the layout for a single unit backspace key + another key, but my plate doesn't.


Cutting along the lines showed should leave spaces for the two switches.
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n193/clayfinley/679f077c-d138-46bf-8a8e-42c2f1509408_zps70dd0de2.jpg) (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/clayfinley/media/679f077c-d138-46bf-8a8e-42c2f1509408_zps70dd0de2.jpg.html)
( and then just use pcb mounted switches on those two keys )

Basically my layout will be this, but I really don't have a good function key.
( bottom right keys are dedicated arrows keys )
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n193/clayfinley/3c613505-f4b9-4f66-b1a5-858e4fb01adc_zpsd42d48cb.jpg) (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/clayfinley/media/3c613505-f4b9-4f66-b1a5-858e4fb01adc_zpsd42d48cb.jpg.html)
Good idea? or bad?

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 16 November 2014, 12:42:49

I feel like this is a really bad idea.

I don't think it'll affect functionality at all but...

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Findecanor on Sun, 16 November 2014, 13:40:11

Is that plate aluminium? Then expanding the hole wouldn't be so difficult, and the result would look better - I have done that.
Reassemble a hacksaw with the blade inside the hole you want to cut inside. You can also mount the blade backwards. But use a hacksaw only for rough cuts. Do the fine stuff with files and use calipers or a ruler to check that you leave the right thickness behind.

Or if that sounds too difficult, at least do the horizontal cut higher up. Again: only rough work with hacksaw, finish up with files.

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Jixr on Sun, 16 November 2014, 15:14:09

Its stainless steel, and I have a dremel with a cutting wheel that I would use.

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 16 November 2014, 16:57:30

Quote from: Jixr on Sun, 16 November 2014, 15:14:09

Its stainless steel, and I have a dremel with a cutting wheel that I would use.

This is gonna be really really tough (and probably look ugly unless you finish with files). I think I would recommend just using PCB mount in that eagle or using a different (universal) plate instead.

But it would probably work, yeah.

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: pichu23 on Sun, 16 November 2014, 17:41:25

Would the switches be disorientated ? (i.e the right side will be lower by a little bit)

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Lu_e on Sun, 16 November 2014, 17:42:15

Stainless can be hard to work with. It will also discolor from the heat of cutting with power tools.

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Wed, 19 November 2014, 18:09:50

I recommend just not using the plate at all. PCB mount switch FTW!

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Wed, 19 November 2014, 18:16:15

Quote from: IvanIvanovich on Wed, 19 November 2014, 18:09:50

I recommend just not using the plate at all. PCB mount switch FTW!

+1

Title: Re: should I cut the plate?
Post by: Jixr on Wed, 19 November 2014, 19:25:08

Thought about that but I don't have enough PCB mount switches :P

I ended up just not cutting it and using my \ key as a fn key, it works out well enough.